Customer Reviews

Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service

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There are certain books I have read which have become part of who I am. Their message has entered my very being and shaped and changed me in significant ways. This is one of those books. Steve Seamands has done a tremendous service to the Church in taking the fruit of the recent renaissance in Trinitarian theology in the academy and fleshing out its implications for the practice of Christian ministry. This is a book that inspires, comforts and challenges in equal measure. It is great mixture of deep and profound theological insight, contemporary illustrations and penetrating practical application.
It is clear that Trinitarian theology for Seamands is not an abstract truth which is to be debated but is rather a reality to be entered, experienced and lived in. Theology and spirituality are seamlessly bound together in this book as they always should be.
In short I can't recommend this book to highly, if you are Christian this is a book that you should read

The trinity is accepted by Christians as a truth but not truely understood, explored or made as a life application. Seamands explains the importance of what the trinity means to us and how to model our lives, ministries and our relationships after it. This is not just for those who work in ministry but is applicable to all Christians. A must read!

I have used this in two of my seminary courses. It is a great and challenging read. It reminds those in ministry our purpose for ministry, and challenges us to not loose our focus. I would recommend this for anyone who is thinking of going into ministry, as it is a book that ministers to the soul of pastors!

Seamands, Stephen. 2005. Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.

How does the doctrine of the Trinity apply to ministry today? That is the question that Seamands answers in his book on how the Trinity affects Christian service. He declares, "I am convinced that no doctrine is, in fact, more relevant to our identity and calling as ministers than the Trinity" (11). Although Seamands tends to relate more to those in pastoral ministry, what he says applies to all believers if we understand the priesthood of all believers.

The first chapter "Trinitarian Ministry: Why it Matters" sets the agenda for the following seven chapters dealing with and progressing from the "Nature of Trinitarian ministry" through to the "Impulses of Trinitarian Ministry."

This reviewer found this was an extremely helpful book to prepare for teaching how the doctrine of the Trinity applies in the life of both believers and the functioning of the local church. The only question one will need to ask from time to time is to what degree does Seamands pastoral tendency flow into his teaching on the Trinity rather than out of it. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book to delve into just that question.

Dr. Seamands book is the best one I've ever read on how the Nature of God impacts the role of how: the Church corporate and individual members live life and do ministry. Since we're "made in the Image of God", that MUST mean something about how our lives ought to be lived out in God's Kingdom here and now. Brilliant book. Can't recommend it enough!! Excellent source for Sermon/teaching materials.

This book has been one of the most influential regarding the nature of Christian ministry that I have ever seen.

* It takes the doctrine of the Trinity and shows how the truths of the nature and work of the Trinity apply directly to our ministry.

* It encourages a God-centered ministry. Our ministry is the ministry of Christ to the Father in the power of the Spirit on behalf of the world.

* It encourages a vibrant relational unity within the church, and helps the reader to see barriers to that unity.

* It reminds us that the natural flow of the Trinity moves outward, encouraging us to be on mission, reaching out to draw people into relationship just as we have been drawn into the Trinity.

This book is honestly the best minstry book I've read. Seamands has crafted a masterpiece.

This is a great book and it arrived when it was supposed to by Amazon. I recommend it for reading!